2024 Walter H. “Doc” Phillips Memorial Award was presented to Surrey and Hugh Hardcastle

In 2019, Harpswell and the Brunswick Rotary Club lost a beloved member, Walter “Doc” Phillips. Alongside his wife Joan, Doc was a pillar of the community, contributing to the Conservation Committee, Harpswell Land Trust, and Rotary for over 40 years.  To celebrate his legacy, the Brunswick Rotary Club established the annual Walter “Doc” H. Phillips Memorial Award in 2020. A plaque at the Harpswell Town Office Building honors each awardee. The recipients should be community members who have shown dedicated involvement in areas that were dear to Doc, such as land conservation, volunteerism, service to others, education, water quality, and science programs. The award is presented annually on Doc’s birthday.

This year we are happy to announce that the recipients of the Walter H. “Doc” Phillips Memorial Award are Surrey and Hugh Hardcastle.

Their contributions to the Harpswell community through various initiatives and organizations have been truly remarkable.

Surrey’s Contributions:

• Harpswell Aging at Home (HAH): Surrey is a key member of the HAH Steering Committee and leads the Food Team. This team coordinates the “Meals in a Pinch” program, delivering meals to those in need, and has provided over 4,000 meals this year. Surrey also organizes “Lunch with Friends,” bringing residents together to share meals and camaraderie.
• Community Involvement: Surrey is deeply involved with the Islands Community Church and is a founding member of the Knit Wits, a group dedicated to community service through knitting.

Hugh’s Contributions:

• Harpswell Aging at Home (HAH): Hugh serves on the HAH Steering Committee and leads the Transportation Committee. This committee coordinates drivers to assist residents in Harpswell, Brunswick, Topsham, and Bath who are unable to drive, ensuring they can attend appointments and run errands.
• Local Organizations: Hugh is on the Board of the Orrs Island Library and serves as its Treasurer. He is also involved with the Islands Community Church as a member of the Worship Committee and Treasurer. Additionally, Hugh has served as the Treasurer of the Carpenter Boat Shop, contributing to its mission of providing boatbuilding and life skills training.

Bowdoin College Involvement:

• Host Parents: Surrey and Hugh have been linked to Bowdoin College as Host Parents, fostering relationships with 15-16 students over the years. They have sponsored meals for returning athletes and connected students with HAH activities.
• Common Good Program: They have supported Bowdoin’s Common Good Program, which trains students in community development. This program involves students researching local non-profits’ needs, raising funds, and learning to write and submit grants.

Surrey and Hugh’s initiative, drive, enthusiasm, and genuine interest in others have significantly shaped a better Harpswell community. Their dedication to service and community engagement is truly inspiring.

Photo: Joan Phillips, Surrey & Hugh Hardcastle

    We had a great time at the 28th Annual Bike Rodeo and Family Safety Day on Saturday, May 18 at the Brunswick Park’s and Recreation Department, with 150 children participating in a variety of activities. 

    Children took their bikes thru a course, with instructors from the Masons and Brunswick Rotary making sure they stopped, yielded, looked both ways, and stayed on course. The course itself was chalked out and signed by long time Wheeler and Bike Rodeo organizer Rich Cromwell with his trusty assistant Mark. The Brunswick Police Department registered the children’s bikes, with a very large orange fox giving high fives to all. 

    Rotarians George, Carla , Gary, and Larry greeted the children as they arrived, and checked in with them. Rotarian Patty was the MC for the event. A big thank you goes out to our local Walmart for donating 6 new bicycles and to the bag stuffers for the gift bags given out to children once they had completed nine stations in the event. 

    A total of 12 bicycles were given out to Charlotte S age 5, Barbara J age 11, Rosemary S age 9, Levi S age 6, Emerie L age 4, Sophia L age 11, Vivian W age 6, Sebastian S age 7, Leo D age7, Isaac K age 7, Henry S age 8, and Molly B age 6, Ice G age 8, Chris A age 5, Finley H age 8, and Ella O age 6! They all received water bottles with gifts inside from Center Street Cycle. Another wonderful event for children coordinated and put on by various local organizations in Brunswick.

And there were many organizations there supporting and educating the children and adults too

    The Brunswick Fire Department brought the Smoke House so children could learn how to react to a fire, if they were ever in a dangerous situation. 

    Center Street Cycle manned two bicycle safety tents, making sure every part of the children’s bicycles were in great shape, and  functioning properly. 

    Cub Scout Pack 648 brought an archery station for the children to try their skills at, and also to teach archery safety. 

    Merrymeeting Wheelers Bicycle Club fit new bike helmets (donated by the Brunswick Rotary) to heads large and small, making sure everyone had the ability to abide by the rules of the road. 

    Martin’s Point Tent with Rotarian Lisa at the booth talking about ticks, and educating on how to check for ticks and how to remove them, and how to be safe outdoors in the summer. 

    Be Smart, a gun safety organization, had a booth to talk to parents and children about the dangers of unsecured guns, and gun safety in the homes. 

    Sabrina, Tom, Aaron, David, and Rosalind, all from Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department were crucial in the planning, set up and execution of the event. Our publicity sponsor, Mid Coast Hospital provides all the material that went out to the schools, and advertising. They had their own booth manned by Melissa, who spoke to children about the dangers of prolonged sun exposure, and how to avoid sunburns. 

    The Maine Wardens Service brought their truck and boat to display for children to view. 

     This year’s event was a great success and we are all looking forward to a wonderful summer! 

2024 Walter H. “Doc” Phillips Memorial Award was presented to Surrey and Hugh Hardcastle

In 2019, Harpswell and the Brunswick Rotary Club lost a beloved member, Walter “Doc” Phillips. Alongside his wife Joan, Doc was a pillar of the community, contributing to the Conservation Committee, Harpswell Land Trust, and Rotary for over 40 years.  To celebrate his legacy, the Brunswick Rotary Club established the annual Walter “Doc” H. Phillips Memorial Award in 2020. A plaque at the Harpswell Town Office Building honors each awardee. The recipients should be community members who have shown dedicated involvement in areas that were dear to Doc, such as land conservation, volunteerism, service to others, education, water quality, and science programs. The award is presented annually on Doc’s birthday.

This year we are happy to announce that the recipients of the Walter H. “Doc” Phillips Memorial Award are Surrey and Hugh Hardcastle.

Their contributions to the Harpswell community through various initiatives and organizations have been truly remarkable.

Surrey’s Contributions:

• Harpswell Aging at Home (HAH): Surrey is a key member of the HAH Steering Committee and leads the Food Team. This team coordinates the “Meals in a Pinch” program, delivering meals to those in need, and has provided over 4,000 meals this year. Surrey also organizes “Lunch with Friends,” bringing residents together to share meals and camaraderie.
• Community Involvement: Surrey is deeply involved with the Islands Community Church and is a founding member of the Knit Wits, a group dedicated to community service through knitting.

Hugh’s Contributions:

• Harpswell Aging at Home (HAH): Hugh serves on the HAH Steering Committee and leads the Transportation Committee. This committee coordinates drivers to assist residents in Harpswell, Brunswick, Topsham, and Bath who are unable to drive, ensuring they can attend appointments and run errands.
• Local Organizations: Hugh is on the Board of the Orrs Island Library and serves as its Treasurer. He is also involved with the Islands Community Church as a member of the Worship Committee and Treasurer. Additionally, Hugh has served as the Treasurer of the Carpenter Boat Shop, contributing to its mission of providing boatbuilding and life skills training.

Bowdoin College Involvement:

• Host Parents: Surrey and Hugh have been linked to Bowdoin College as Host Parents, fostering relationships with 15-16 students over the years. They have sponsored meals for returning athletes and connected students with HAH activities.
• Common Good Program: They have supported Bowdoin’s Common Good Program, which trains students in community development. This program involves students researching local non-profits’ needs, raising funds, and learning to write and submit grants.

Surrey and Hugh’s initiative, drive, enthusiasm, and genuine interest in others have significantly shaped a better Harpswell community. Their dedication to service and community engagement is truly inspiring.

Photo: Joan Phillips, Surrey & Hugh Hardcastle

    We had a great time at the 28th Annual Bike Rodeo and Family Safety Day on Saturday, May 18 at the Brunswick Park’s and Recreation Department, with 150 children participating in a variety of activities. 

    Children took their bikes thru a course, with instructors from the Masons and Brunswick Rotary making sure they stopped, yielded, looked both ways, and stayed on course. The course itself was chalked out and signed by long time Wheeler and Bike Rodeo organizer Rich Cromwell with his trusty assistant Mark. The Brunswick Police Department registered the children’s bikes, with a very large orange fox giving high fives to all. 

    Rotarians George, Carla , Gary, and Larry greeted the children as they arrived, and checked in with them. Rotarian Patty was the MC for the event. A big thank you goes out to our local Walmart for donating 6 new bicycles and to the bag stuffers for the gift bags given out to children once they had completed nine stations in the event. 

    A total of 12 bicycles were given out to Charlotte S age 5, Barbara J age 11, Rosemary S age 9, Levi S age 6, Emerie L age 4, Sophia L age 11, Vivian W age 6, Sebastian S age 7, Leo D age7, Isaac K age 7, Henry S age 8, and Molly B age 6, Ice G age 8, Chris A age 5, Finley H age 8, and Ella O age 6! They all received water bottles with gifts inside from Center Street Cycle. Another wonderful event for children coordinated and put on by various local organizations in Brunswick.

And there were many organizations there supporting and educating the children and adults too

    The Brunswick Fire Department brought the Smoke House so children could learn how to react to a fire, if they were ever in a dangerous situation. 

    Center Street Cycle manned two bicycle safety tents, making sure every part of the children’s bicycles were in great shape, and  functioning properly. 

    Cub Scout Pack 648 brought an archery station for the children to try their skills at, and also to teach archery safety. 

    Merrymeeting Wheelers Bicycle Club fit new bike helmets (donated by the Brunswick Rotary) to heads large and small, making sure everyone had the ability to abide by the rules of the road. 

    Martin’s Point Tent with Rotarian Lisa at the booth talking about ticks, and educating on how to check for ticks and how to remove them, and how to be safe outdoors in the summer. 

    Be Smart, a gun safety organization, had a booth to talk to parents and children about the dangers of unsecured guns, and gun safety in the homes. 

    Sabrina, Tom, Aaron, David, and Rosalind, all from Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department were crucial in the planning, set up and execution of the event. Our publicity sponsor, Mid Coast Hospital provides all the material that went out to the schools, and advertising. They had their own booth manned by Melissa, who spoke to children about the dangers of prolonged sun exposure, and how to avoid sunburns. 

    The Maine Wardens Service brought their truck and boat to display for children to view. 

     This year’s event was a great success and we are all looking forward to a wonderful summer!